Driving a car in Thailand

[JohnK]

Thinking of hiring a car in Chiang Mai for short trips in a couple of weeks.

I know a few AFFers who have driven in Thailand and have not had any issues. Sitting in the back seat of taxis it looks chaotic with plenty of near misses. Am I mad for considering the option?

I am assuming my Australian drivers licence would be sufficient and not need an international drivers licence?

Also I am assuming hiring from Hertz would include all the insurance I need and travel insurance will cover any excess?

 

[straitman]

Thinking of hiring a car in Chiang Mai for short trips in a couple of weeks.

I know a few AFFers who have driven in Thailand and have not had any issues. Sitting in the back seat of taxis it looks chaotic with plenty of near misses. Am I mad for considering the option?

I am assuming my Australian drivers licence would be sufficient and not need an international drivers licence?

Also I am assuming hiring from Hertz would include all the insurance I need and travel insurance will cover any excess?

I hired a car in Koh Samui but it is obviously not anywhere near as busy.

The only advice I was given was hire it through somewhere well known so they are in a position to help you IF you need it. In our case that was the resort and we used Australian Licences.

My daughter hired on near coughet in the last few days so I'll ask her how she went etc.

 

[Comoman]

I have hired many times from Avis in coughet. No problem driving - an International Drivers License is optional. This is from my Avis booking: "Driver's License RequirementsValid driver's license from country of residence is required. International driving license is required only for countries with non-Roman alphabet. International driving license is a translation only."

Just check your travel insurance requirements.

Also check the car carefully for damage prior to taking and make sure it's noted. See the attached existing damage report from collection!

 

[RB]

I have hired many times from Avis in coughet. No problem driving - an International Drivers License is optional. This is from my Avis booking: "Driver's License RequirementsValid driver's license from country of residence is required. International driving license is required only for countries with non-Roman alphabet. International driving license is a translation only."

Just check your travel insurance requirements.

Also check the car carefully for damage prior to taking and make sure it's noted. See the attached existing damage report from collection!

View attachment 77529

I am guessing the car will not be sold as being in "as new condition"

 

[flyingfan]

I don't think you are mad - have driven across a fair bit of Thailand (though not Chiang Mai) and haven't had any major issues.
Had a couple of police encounters which unfortunately seemed to be more about hassling foreigners for bribes than actual safety issues.
I have hired with Avis and this has been the only time anywhere in the world I was actually asked for my international driving permit.

 

[Archphoto]

I drive in BKK semi-regularly - it's definitely *not* Australian driving (in some ways that is ideal!)

In a nutshell, be prepared for anything and remember those flashing headlights aren't saying "ok I've seen you I'll slow down" rather "don't even think about it!!" They are more aggressive in their driving than in AU (I don't mean blasting their horns and giving you the bird) and often do things that seem initially to be "huh??", will start to make sense. Once you look at it from the point of view that there are a few thousand more drivers on the road, you'll soon understand why, and start to adopt some of the "what the??!!" to your own driving.

EG: Doing a u-turn and pulling across the closest 2 lanes (4-lane road) that are clear, to get into the supermarket on the far left whilst some traffic is still coming through on the far lanes, can be daunting, but if you waited for all of them to clear, it would be 2050 before you actually got anywhere.

I do still drive as if I am in AU (indicate, check over my shoulder, have my mirrors set differently) - but my habits have changed to be more aggressive, not in a bad way, just so that I can get around more easily by simply adopting those things that are obvious and work (the example above is one of them).

Be extremely aware of motorcyclists - they can be all over the place and are happy to creep up on your left and *not* stop for you when you are indicating that you are turning left. (Don't ask how I know. )

Understand your trepidation JohnK, I wasn't too sure either, but once you get the hang of it and figure out their style of crazy (but not crazy) way of doing some things, you'll be ok. It's different when you're driving to being in the back of the cab - you get to see what is really happening and start to make decisions more easily once you're behind the wheel.

In a nutshell: just like in AU, if you aren't sure, don't try it. Drive to your comfort zone and remember to stay out of the far outside lane - that's for wannabe F1 drivers. :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

EG: Doing a u-turn and pulling across the closest 2 lanes (4-lane road) that are clear, to get into the supermarket on the far left whilst some traffic is still coming through on the far lanes, can be daunting, but if you waited for all of them to clear, it would be 2050 before you actually got anywhere.

Last trip I walked around the moat in the old city in Chiang Mai on the inside footpath. Boy was that a mistake when I tried to cross the 4 lanes of traffic to get to hotel. The cars/motorcycles don't stop. It's just one after the other. I remember pressing the button at the pedestrian crossing and the lights went red and no one stopped. Just kept driving.

I am amazed more people don't die on the roads.

 

[JohnK]

I hired a car twice last week. Interesting experience but managed to survive.

Will hire another car tomorrow.

 

[Archphoto]

I hired a car twice last week. Interesting experience but managed to survive.

Will hire another car tomorrow.

Congrats John!
It definitely gets easier the more you drive, by the end of the year you'll be an "expert BKK driver"!:mrgreen:

 

[craven morehead]

I hired a car twice last week. Interesting experience but managed to survive.

Will hire another car tomorrow.

With a major rental company ? I hired a car once in coughet and had to leave my passport as security but wasn't with a major firm. All worked out okay.

 

[JohnK]

Congrats John!
It definitely gets easier the more you drive, by the end of the year you'll be an "expert BKK driver"!:mrgreen:

Not sure about BKK just yet.

We have decided it makes sense to hire a car when we go to village as it costs at least 1,000 baht return in taxi but having to travel at sort of fixed times but hiring a car with Hertz and 2,000 United miles is ~1,800 baht including fuel or Avis and no miles is ~1,200 baht including fuel. We can come and go as we please but some cost getting to/from airport.

With a major rental company ? I hired a car once in coughet and had to leave my passport as security but wasn't with a major firm. All worked out okay.

Hertz and Avis so far. Have been looking at some other car rental companies but the 2,000 United miles from Hertz is a no brainer for now.

 

[docjames]

Not sure about BKK just yet.

We have decided it makes sense to hire a car when we go to village as it costs at least 1,000 baht return in taxi but having to travel at sort of fixed times but hiring a car with Hertz and 2,000 United miles is ~1,800 baht including fuel or Avis and no miles is ~1,200 baht including fuel. We can come and go as we please but some cost getting to/from airport.


Hertz and Avis so far. Have been looking at some other car rental companies but the 2,000 United miles from Hertz is a no brainer for now.

The extra flexibility of having your own transport is well worth the extra cost.

The miles are a bonus!

 

[JohnK]

The extra flexibility of having your own transport is well worth the extra cost.

The miles are a bonus!

The flexibility is fantastic.

We need to go to 3 different offices next week to register the birth so think a hire car is better than Songthaews. Plus one of the offices is in the village anyway.

And the funny part is my wife is happy when I earn miles.

 

[UP4014]

I have hired many times from Avis in coughet. No problem driving - an International Drivers License is optional. This is from my Avis booking: "Driver's License RequirementsValid driver's license from country of residence is required. International driving license is required only for countries with non-Roman alphabet. International driving license is a translation only."

Just check your travel insurance requirements.

Also check the car carefully for damage prior to taking and make sure it's noted. See the attached existing damage report from collection!

View attachment 77529

Had the same looking check sheet in Mexico, the office rep took the sheet and marked every panel then gave it to me for signing before I even saw the vehicle.

Good luck, I'd do it, sounds like fun.

 

[JohnK]

The one time I hired a car from CNX Avis a few weeks ago and it was hard to find a spot that didn't require panel beating.

Hiring another car in 2 days then again next week. Will be interesting to see what I get this time.